Copyright © ChangeInc 2023

Offered by our partner TotalEnergies - TotalEnergies and Jedlix have successfully demonstrated that smart charging of electric vehicles (EVs) - i.e. charging at the right time - can significantly ease the load on the electricity grid. During a trial in Utrecht on June 21, the longest day of the year, 179 public charging stations charged less during peak hours and 251 private charging stations charged as much as possible outside those peak hours. As a result, electricity use during those hours fell by 40 percent.

The charging of electric cars, which usually occurs during the busy evening peak between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., was automatically shifted during the trial to times when the electricity grid has more space. What is unique about this project is that both the public charging stations on the street and the private charging stations at people's homes were smartly charged at the same time.

Switching off charging stations and panels

The Netherlands has been heavily electrifying in recent years to meet its climate goals. Part of this is the increase in electric passenger cars. These vehicles are often charged at the end of the day, at the time when households also demand more power. This leads to peak demand. This peak demand poses a challenge for grid operators and can lead to grid overload. Measures such as temporarily switching off charging stations are being considered. In addition, solar panels are sometimes switched off because they supply too much electricity back at peak times.

Optimal use

Olof van der Gaag, chairman of the Dutch Renewable Energy Association (NVDE), has this to say: "Making optimal use of available renewable energy and meeting the charging needs of growing electric transport are essential for making the Netherlands more sustainable. Smart charging technologies offer an excellent solution for this."

Smart solutions

TotalEnergies, with a network of 17,000 charging points in the Netherlands, and Jedlix, leading provider of smart charging services, are working together on solutions that put less strain on the grid. Among other things, they ensure that EVs parked at a charging station in a particular neighborhood use electricity from solar panels in the region, on the same low-voltage grid. They are also applying other smart charging systems.

Trial in Utrecht

On the longest day of the year, TotalEnergies and Jedlix demonstrated in Utrecht how smart charging can reduce pressure on the electricity grid. At 179 TotalEnergies public charging stations - without the electric driver noticing much - charging was reduced during peak hours. The owners of 251 private Jedlix charging stations charged at a discount during the day outside peak hours, making optimal use of available solar energy in the region. Control took place based on the expected load on the grid.

40 percent less consumption

Van der Gaag emphasizes, "The simultaneous control of private and public charging infrastructure is unique in the Netherlands. With this, TotalEnergies and Jedlix demonstrate the potential of smart charging to reduce the load on the electricity grid."

By applying these smart charging techniques, TotalEnergies and Jedlix have ensured that electricity consumption during peak hours between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. has been reduced by an average of 40 percent.

© The Content Exchange, source News